After venturing through the exotic lands of the Orient alongside Captain William Laurence of Her Majesty's Air Corps, the Chinese dragon Temeraire and his partner embark on a new and urgent mission. "Black Powder War" is the sequel to the book "The Jade Throne," in which the duo faces several military and political obstacles to remain together, following the extraordinary dragon Temeraire's claim by the Chinese Empire. In Naomi Novik's epic saga, which blends fantasy and history set in the Napoleonic period, humans and flying dragons coexist and face battles together in an alternate universe. In the third book in the series—which captivated filmmaker Peter Jackson, director of "The Lord of the Rings," and is due to hit the big screen soon—Captain William Laurence's crew must travel to Istanbul to rescue three dragon eggs acquired by the British Empire. As a result, the two end up engaging in breathtaking battles. The mission must be completed before the eggs hatch in the Orient or on their way to England, as the chances of the newborns becoming alien to the British aviators are high. And the presence of the rare fire-breathing dragon Zazilik, or the swift Akhalteke, could facilitate victory against Napoleon. Everything goes well until a series of unforeseen events jeopardizes the journey's mission. In addition to facing the Turks, Temeraire and his companions will have to fight a group of wild dragons and battle across several fronts of nations trying to stop Napoleon's advance. While aiding the Russian and Austrian allies in nearly unwinnable battles, Temeraire and his friends have the difficult task of protecting the eggs they are transporting. The adventure becomes more exciting when the female dragon Lien, a former ally of the Chinese Empire, decides to ally herself with the French, promising revenge. "Authentic and full of all the detail and richness one seeks in a military account." — Entertainment Weekly “The story of the dragon Temeraire is an incredible blend of two genres I particularly love—fantasy and historical epic. I can't wait to see Napoleonic battles fought with the help of a squadron of dragons. That's what I go to the movies for.” — Peter Jackson, filmmaker
